Whanganui District Health Board wants to thank the people of our region for working together to minimise the spread of COVID-19 and for the work essential services are doing.

There have been no cases of COVID-19 in the region as of 4pm Thursday 26 March 2020.

Emergency Operations Centre Controller Louise Allsopp says it has been a community effort.

“We are working with iwi, Police, local councils and health and wellbeing agencies to make sure people can take care of themselves, their whānau and loved ones while we are all in this uncertain period,” says Ms Allsopp.  

Key Whanganui Health information

• There have been no cases of coronavirus COVID-19 in Whanganui region as at 4pmnoon Thursday, 26 March 2020.
• Please phone essential health services such as GPs, pharmacies through the lockdown period in the Whanganui region.
• Hospital visiting is only for patients at end stage of life, in the Critical Care Unit, Maternity Unit and one parent for children in the Children’s Ward.
• Whanganui hospital is open 24/7 for acute cases and those patients who need urgent care.
• A community-based assessment centre (CBAC) to assess possible COVID-19 cases is open in the grounds of Whanganui Hospital.
• Other assessment centres have opened at Gonville Health and Te Oranganui to serve their local communities.
• We ask people to stay home, and to look after themselves and the people they care most for.
  We can slow the spread if we all work together.
  Remember to regularly wash your hands and dry them well.
  And always cough and sneeze into your elbow.

For more information 

• To keep up to date with local information about important health services in the Whanganui Region visit www.facebook.com/whanganuidhb/ or www.wdhb.org.nz
• Te Ranga Tupua Collective Iwi Response – phone 0800 202 004 for help, advice and support for whānau in the Whanganui, Rangitīkei, Ruapehu, Otaihape and South Taranaki Region
• For national information visit health.govt.nz/covid-19 or covid19.govt.nz

If you are unwell

• Phone the COVID-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453
• If you are going to your general practice (GP) - phone first
• If you are so unwell you need to come to the hospital ED - phone first.